2023 Record: 22-7
#6 Shore Conference Top 11
CJG5 State Sectional Champions
District 22 Champions
3rd Place Shore Conference Tournament
Tied 2nd Place A-North
ShoreConferenceWrestling.com Wrestler of the Year
(Sr) DJ Henry - 190
Record: 37-7
6th Place State Tournament / Region 6 Champion / District 22 Champion
Shore Conference Tournament Champion / 8th Place Beast of the East
Wgt | Wrestler | Record | Post Season |
106 | (So) Mason Hultman | 10-14 | |
106 | (Fr) Lucas Varrial | 1-7 | |
106 | (So) John Sullivan | 0-3 | |
113 | (Fr) Manuel Lourido | 7-9 | |
113 | (So) Tyree Unger | 0-2 | |
113 | (Fr) Kylie Gudewitz | 2-14 | |
113 | (Sr) Rusty Cocuzza | 1-1 | |
120 | (So) Xavier Ortega | 36-6 | D-1st / R-1st / NJ-WB4 |
120 | (So) Johnny Wallace | 0-1 | |
126 | (Jr) Sebastian Ortega | 36-6 | D-1st / R-2nd / NJ-WB4 |
126 | (Sr) Patrick Schaeffer | 1-11 | |
132 | (Jr) Giovanni Scafidi | 27-6 | D-1st / R-2nd / NJ-WB3 |
132 | (So) Anthony Bilotti | 1-2 | |
138 | (Jr) JJ Machnik | 27-12 | D-2nd / R-6th |
138 | |||
144 | (Sr) Kieran Bruen | 34-8 | D-1st / R-2nd / NJ-WB2 |
144 | (Jr) Marcello Romano | 1-1 | |
150 | (Jr) Aiden Grant | 12-14 | D-4th |
150 | (Jr) Dylan Maghan | 4-8 | |
150 | (Sr) Bryan Reyes | 0-2 | |
157 | (Sr) Gavin Merkel | 26-12 | D-2nd / R-4th / NJ-WB1 |
165 | (So) Devin Perez | 3-9 | |
165 | (Sr) Russell Halvorsen | 14-10 | |
165 | (Fr) Ray Purrelli | 7-16 | |
165 | (Fr) Julian Del Prete | 0-3 | |
175 | (So) Travis Edmonds | 0-7 | |
175 | |||
190 | (Sr) DJ Henry | 37-7 | D-1st / R-1st / NJ-6th |
190 | (Sr) Xavier Lopez | 7-5 | |
190 | (Jr) Jason Willey | 1-7 | |
215 | (Jr) Dane Colfer | 14-8 | D-3rd / R-6th |
215 | (So) Mike Saweris | 1-6 | |
215 | (Jr) Joe Cate | 0-4 | |
Hwt | (Sr) Thomas Richards | 27-12 | D-2nd / R-5th |
Hwt | (Jr) Jaxson Campese | 3-4 | |
Hwt | (Sr) Richie Diab | 2-1 |
SCHEDULE
Date | Opponent | Result |
12/15 | at Middletown South | L 27-48 |
12/17 | John & Betty Vogeding Tournament | RESULTS |
12/18 | Beast of the East | 44th Place |
12/21 | vs Freehold Twp | W 43-31 |
12/29 | at Pascack Valley | W 41-31 |
1/4 | at Marlboro | W 44-33 |
1/5 | vs Jackson Memorial | L 23-43 |
1/7 | vs North Hunterdon (Boresch Duals) | L 24-48 |
Newton | W 63-12 | |
Hanover Park | W 38-31 | |
1/10 | vs Westfield | L 28-37 |
1/11 | at CBA | L 21-53 |
1/14 | vs Colts Neck | W 43-31 |
Hightstown | W 59-23 | |
Monroe | W 47-27 | |
1/18 | at Middletown North | W 38-37 |
1/20-21 | vs Cherokee (Jack Welch Duals) | W 52-21 |
Holy Spirit | W 48-28 | |
Kingsway | L 35-36 | |
Long Branch | W 36-28 | |
Moorestown | W 52-26 | |
1/24 | vs Watchung Hills | W 41-30 |
1/25 | vs Freehold Boro | W 40-34 |
1/28 | Shore Conference Tournament | 3rd Place |
2/1 | vs Manalapan | W 48-24 |
2/4 | vs Egg Harbor | W 60-18 |
Williamstown | W 53-27 | |
Maple Shade | W 72-3 | |
2/6 | CJG5-QF: vs Edison (at Hillsborough) | W 60-18 |
CJG5-SF: at Hillsborough | W 37-26 | |
2/8 | CJG5-FINAL: at Hunterdon Central | W 34-33 |
2/10 | G5-SF: at Phillipsburg | L 23-47 |
2/18 | District 22 | 1st Place |
ShoreConferenceWrestling.com Wrestler of the Year
(Sr) DJ Henry - 190
Record: 37-7
6th Place State Tournament / Region 6 Champion / District 22 Champion
Shore Conference Tournament Champion / 8th Place Beast of the East
3/4: NJSIAA STATE TOURNAMENT
Howell (1 Medal Winner)
Senior DJ Henry capped his career with a 6th place finish in Atlantic City, to claim his first State medal, and the 36th State medal overall for Howell. It also extends the Rebels' streak to 8 seasons with at least one State medalist.
Sebastian and Xavier Ortega both finished one win shy of earning a spot on the podium, with each dropping decisions in Friday night's Blood Round. For Sebastian it was his 2nd consecutive WB4 finish after placing 5th in 2021.
6th: DJ Henry (190)
WB4: Xavier Ortega (120) / Sebastian Ortega (126)
WB3: Giovanni Scafidi (132)
WB2: Kieran Bruen (144)
WB1: Gavin Merkel (157)
2/25: REGION 6
Howell (2 Champions / 6 Medal Winners)
Xavier Ortega won his 2nd Region title, the 8th Rebel to win multiple championships, and DJ Henry claimed his first, to put Howell at 43 Region Champions in total, the most for any Monmouth County school, and 4th best in the Shore Conference. The two titles also extended Howell's streak to eight consecutive seasons with at least one champion.
1st: Xavier Ortega (120) / DJ Henry (190)
2nd: Sebastian Ortega (126) / Giovanni Scafidi (132) / Kieran Bruen (144)
4th: Gavin Merkel (157)
5th: Thomas Richards (Hwt)
6th: JJ Machnik (138) / Dane Colfer (215)
2/18: DISTRICT 22 TOURNAMENT
Howell (1st Place / 5 Champions / 9 Medal Winners)
The Rebels claimed their 2nd consecutive District Team Title, giving them 15 overall, and moving themselves alone into 2nd for most all-time for a Monmouth County team. Howell's five District Champions gives them 157 total, which is the best for any Monmouth County program, and also extends their streak to 18 seasons with a champ, which is now the 5th longest in the Shore.
1st: Xavier Ortega (120) / Sebastian Ortega (126) / Giovanni Scafidi (132) / Kieran Bruen (144) / DJ Henry (190)
2nd: JJ Machnik (138) / Gavin Merkel (157) / Thomas Richards (Hwt)
3rd: Dane Colfer (215)
GROUP 5 CHAMPIONSHIPS
SF: Phillipsburg 47 - Howell 23 (BOX SCORE)
CJG5 SECTIONALS
QF: Howell 60 - Edison 18 (BOX SCORE)
SEMI: Howell 37 - Hillsborough 26 (BOX SCORE)
FINAL: Howell 34 - Hunterdon Central 33 (BOX SCORE)
2/4: HOWELL QUAD
Howell 60 - Egg Harbor 18 (BOX SCORE)
Howell 72 - Maple Shade 3 (BOX SCORE)
Howell 53 - Williamstown 27 (BOX SCORE)
2/1: A-NORTH
Howell 48 - Manalapan 24 (BOX SCORE)
Howell: (120) #2 X Ortega d. #7 Vitola; Bruen (21-5); Henry (23-4); S Ortega (21-3); Merkel (16-5)
Manalapan: Stakemann, Zavalnik, Andy Mucciolo, & Spezio win by fall
1/28: SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
3rd Place
1st: DJ Henry (190)
2nd: Xavier Ortega (120) / Sebastian Ortega (126) / Giovanni Scafidi (132)
6th: Kieran Bruen (144) / Thomas Richards (Hwt)
1/25: A-NORTH
Howell 40 - Freehold Boro 34 (BOX SCORE)
Howell: Richards with walk-off pin; X Ortega (18-3); S Ortega (16-2); Bruen (17-3); Henry (17-4)
Freehold Boro: Messina (20-2); Fata (11-4); Berryman (14-4); Sheridan (13-8)
Howell 41 - Watchung Hills 30 (BOX SCORE)
Howell: X Ortega (18-3); S Ortega (16-2); Scafidi (13-2); Machnik (14-6); Bruen (17-3); Henry (17-4)
1/20 & 1/21: JACK WELCH DUALS
Howell 36 - Long Branch 28 (BOX SCORE)
Howell 52 - Moorestown 26 (BOX SCORE)
Howell 52 - Cherokee 21 (BOX SCORE)
Howell 48 - Holy Spirit 28 (BOX SCORE)
Kingsway 36 - Howell 35 (BOX SCORE)
1/18: A-NORTH
Howell 38 - Middletown North 37 (BOX SCORE)
Howell: X Ortega (14-2); S Ortega (15-2); Scafidi (8-1); Bruen (12-3); Henry (13-4)
Midd North: Klinsky (19-0); C Oden (17-5); Castelli (14-2); Ainbinder (18-3)
1/14: HOWELL QUAD
Howell 43 - Colts Neck 31 (BOX SCORE)
Howell 59 - Hightstown 23 (BOX SCORE)
Howell 47 - Monroe 27 (BOX SCORE)
1/11: A-NORTH
CBA 53 - Howell 21 (BOX SCORE)
CBA: Barrett, Grippo, Canterino, Provines, Jenks, & Repetti win by fall; Nini techs
Howell: Scafidi techs; Bruen majors
1/10: NON-CONFERENCE
Westfield 37 - Howell 28 (BOX SCORE)
Howell: Henry & Lourido pin; S Ortega & Richards win by major
1/7: HENRY BORESCH DUALS
Howell 63 - Newton 12 (BOX SCORE)
North Hunterdon 48 - Howell 24 (BOX SCORE)
Howell 38 - Hanover Park 31 (BOX SCORE)
1/5: NON-DIVISION
Jackson Memorial 43 - Howell 23 (BOX SCORE)
Jackson Mem: (157) Calamia d. #7 Merkel; (Hwt) #2 Fischer p. #6 Richards; Kovacs, Hamann, & Novello pin; Weikel & Zito with techs
Howell: Henry techs; Bruen, X Ortega, & S Ortega with majors
1/4: A-NORTH
Howell 44 - Marlboro 33 (BOX SCORE)
Howell: Grant & Halvorsen win by fall; Machnik techs
Marlboro: Perlow, Bayer, Palagano, & Falcone with pins
12/29: NON-CONFERENCE
Howell 41 - Pascack Valley 31 (BOX SCORE)
Howell: Merkel, Richards, Hultman, & X Ortega win by fall; Henry techs; Machnik majors
12/21: A-NORTH
Howell 43 - Freehold Twp 31 (BOX SCORE)
Howell: Richards,Hultman, Bruen, & Halvorsen win by fall; X Ortega majors
Freehold Twp: Andujar & Harrington pin; Hynes majors
12/18: BEAST OF THE EAST (BRACKET)
Howell (44th): 7th: Sebastian Ortega (126) / 8th: DJ Henry (190)
12/17: JOHN & BETTY VOGEDING TOURNAMENT (BRACKET)
Howell (Split Squad): 2nd: Hultman (106), Machnik (138), Richards (Hwt)
12/15: A-NORTH
Middletown South 48 - Howell 27 (BOX SCORE)
Middletown South: Smith, Penta, J Veniskey, Z Veniskey, Zaleski, & Simoniello win by pin
Howell: Henry & S Ortega win by fall
2023
Head Coach
John Gagliano
(26th Season in 2023)
Assistants
Rich Gildner
Jason Brandl
Nick Farrar
Volunteers
Petey Reilly
Kyle Cocozza
Anthony Gagliano
Sean Silverstein
Joe Falco
Cole Cameron
Todd Going
Rich Famularo
Mike Verrochi
Section
CJ Group 5
Division
A-North
District
22
Region
6